More about Ben: Ben is a devout Mormon, he interrupted his college football career to spend two years as a missionary in Las Vegas for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is also the first white player to start at quarterback for his historically black college and its 97-year-old football program....completed 477 of 764 passes in three seasons at FAMU
Projects as a second day draft pick

My name is Ben Dougherty and I was the starting quarterback for Florida A&M University the past two seasons. I deal with most of the same pressures, privileges, and activities that football players deal with across the United States who attend a school that loves their football. I am the average student/athlete and my life seems pretty ordinary to me. To others it seems anything but ordinary. You see Florida A&M is if not the biggest, one of the biggest HBCU's (Historically Black College/University) in the country (over 14,000 students, I think).

I am a white boy from a small logging town in Washington State who had only one black person in my entire graduating class. And I mean I'm white. Just ask my teammates. They have tried many many times to try and teach me to dance but with dancing, practice does not make perfect. I simply have no rhythm. Only a couple still have faith in me that I can still get it. Anyways, my situation really does not seem one bit weird or odd to me any longer.

After my 1st or 2nd week here at school I felt at home. To others from the outside looking in it is anything but normal. I've been shopping at a store or walking around campus, or the mall on several occasions and been stopped and asked by people (black

and white) in one way or another, "Do you really like FAMU? Be honest with me. I see you on the news and read in the paper how much you love being at FAMU. Do you really feel that way? Please tell me the truth."

My answer never changes, YES, I REALLY LOVE FAMU. I have never been treated with so much love by teammates, classmates, and teachers at any school I have ever attended. That includes an almost all white Iowa State University (I attended there out of high school for one year on a football scholarship).

I was invited to the National Football League's scouting combine at the end of this month in Indianapolis, Indiana. This is not just any tryout though. This is the one that you dream of getting invited to as a little kid. About 2% of college football seniors who are eligible for the NFL draft get invited to the combine. I feel extremely honored to be included in that group. I really wanted to get some help in thanking the FAMU fans that are literally scattered all across the country. We play in several Classic games each year that have more fans than most Division I schools ever see. Over 70,000 African-American fans flock to these games. Fans come from all over the country to watch these classic games. I also wanted to publicly thank my teammates for everything over the past few years. I have so many hilarious stories about my experiences here on campus and throughout town with teammates and classmates that people are brought to tears laughing. My experience has been an amazing one. I have had a few people say someone could make a ton of money doing a movie on my story.

No one from Florida A&M has been invited to the combine for almost 10 years and I want to thank my teammates for helping me get there. They have been such a support to me. Some of them seemed happier for me than I did. They continue to call or come over and tell me that I better ball out at the combine for them and to show those boys what FAMU football is all about. I promise them that I will. I would love to get across to my teammates, coaches, and fans how grateful I was and am for their support. Sure there were some fans not happy simply because FAMU had a white QB but that was probably less than 1% of the people. I respected those peoples opinions though when I would meet them. Some had choice words for me but that was OK. One of the biggest things I have learned here is that if you show others with respect in most cases you will get it back. I had heard that a lot before, but I have seen it with my own eyes here. I could go on forever with stories about teammates and fans loyalty and support of me. Dan Parrish my starting 6'7 350 lb. offensive tackle was not supposed to play in the last game of the season. He didn't practice during the week and the doctor recommended he didn't play. He came up to me and said before that game that nothing was going to keep him off the field for my last game with him. He started that game and gave everything he had. He couldn't finish the game and has since had surgery on that knee but I will never forget that.

Quote:

Strengths: Has great size...Has deceptive mobility and will run a little... Performed well despite not having the most talented supporting cast...Was extremely productive at his level.
Weaknesses: Did not always play against top competition and stuggled against the likes of Virginia Tech in 2004...Has a solid arm but it isn't special...May have been a big fish in a small pond.
Notes: Transferred from Iowa St...Had a great overall career and may be a better prospect than Casey Printers, another former Rattler signal caller

1. he's mormon-so we don't have to worry about character
2. he was a white player at a HBC...which means that he can earn the respect of teammates who are from different backgrounds
3. he played great despite having a crappy supporting cast...similar to brooks ;)

actually..does anyone know anything about this guy..is he any good?

CheramieIII

03-29-2005 03:43 PM

the perfect backup to AB

The perfect backup would have been Delhomme or JT. We need to cut lose Buttman and let the others take a shot at number 2. Lets not waste draft picks on a number 2 QB unless it is a sure thing.

baronm

03-29-2005 03:55 PM

the perfect backup to AB

it was a half-joke/half-real....I wished jt would have stayed-I think he has a chance to make it..there are very few QB\'s I\'d actually be happy if we took-actually three:

walter, fitzgerald, laflors.

FireVenturi

03-29-2005 10:15 PM

the perfect backup to AB

Quote:

The perfect backup would have been Delhomme or JT. We need to cut lose Buttman and let the others take a shot at number 2. Lets not waste draft picks on a number 2 QB unless it is a sure thing.

Perfect backup is ABB....Anybody But Booman!

no_cloning

03-30-2005 07:22 AM

the perfect backup to AB

Fun thought: JT is a restricted free agent and can be had for a sixth rounder. Just sayin\' ...

D-buck47

03-30-2005 01:25 PM

the perfect backup to AB

Andrew Walter. The guy will be a stud, might as well go for youth

saintsfan200

03-30-2005 01:37 PM

the perfect backup to AB

For those who care, the Saints seemed to be interested in Adrian Mcpherson. Below, are articles about his Pro Day held yesterday.

The toughest part of his day came afterwards when he was grilled about his past, which included the highly-publicized trial in the spring of 2003 for using the Internet to place bets on college and professional sports. The trial ended in a hung jury.

McPherson denied he ever gambled.

\"I didn\'t gamble,\" he said. \"It\'s not going to change. It is what it is. People are saying he did it, but his name wasn\'t associated it with it. I didn\'t do it.\"

The subject comes up often - when he talks with reporters

somehow i actually believe him...

[Edited on 30/3/2005 by baronm]

kojak

04-05-2005 01:33 PM

the perfect backup to AB

perfect would be home town boy from louisville

STEFAN LEFORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mutineer10

04-05-2005 07:05 PM

the perfect backup to AB

Quote:

No one from Florida A&M has been invited to the combine for almost 10 years and I want to thank my teammates for helping me get there.

So the only white guy at FAMU was the first invited to the combine in almost 10 years?